Looking ahead to the next election for president, if Donald Trump runs for reelection as the Republicancandidate, will you definitely vote for Trump in that election, probably vote for Trump, probably vote for theDemocratic candidate, or definitely vote for the Democratic candidate?

The results, likely to be branded “Fake News” by the administration and its supporters, paint a bleak picture for those hoping that Trump would become America’s fourth consecutive two-term president.

Grouping the “Definitely” and “Probably” voters together for both Trump and the unnamed Democratic nominee, the president finds himself on the losing side of a 52-38% equation.

Anger partially fueled by Tax Reform

Unlike past presidents, it’s hard to find a standout disagreement with Trump that unites his opponents. Barack Obama had the Affordable Care Act. George W. Bush drew criticism for leading the US into war with Iraq under questionable circumstances. Most qualms with Bill Clinton came from his personal indiscretions. And George HW Bush, while affable, oversaw a very sluggish economy. But Donald Trump is a completely different ballgame.

That’s because Trump has managed to offend essentially every demographic in this country, with the possible exception of white, Conservative-Christian, heterosexual white males. And even that demographic has reason to be upset with him. His twitter tantrums have become an international embarrassment. With the rise of the #MeToo movement, his alleged history of sexual misconduct is under increased scrutiny.

But if there’s a legislative “accomplishment” behind his abysmal reelection outlook, it’s likely the Republican Party’s tax reform bill that he plans to sign into law on Wednesday. The question is, are voters – even past trump voters – aware that this “accomplishment” is actually a scam that will enrich Trump himself and other Republicans, at their expense? Will they see past the short term gains to the long term pains? And if they do, will they see the truth before the middle class’s initial tax decreases turn into massive tax increases? Or before the $1.5 trillion this will add to the national deficit becomes the justification for the GOP to finally achieve their decades long goal of eliminating America’s social safety net, principally Medicare and Social Security?

To sum up that question, pollsters asked:

Do you think that President Trump’s tax plan is a good idea or bad idea? If you do not have an opinion eitherway, please just say so. (If Good idea/Bad idea, ask:) And, do you feel that way strongly, or not so strongly?

To which the respondents answered by an almost 2-1 margin that this was not a good idea for the nation:

TOTAL GOOD IDEA………………… 24 Strongly ………………………………… 20 Not so strongly ………………………. 4TOTAL BAD IDEA…………………….. 41 Not so strongly ……………………….. 4 Strongly …………………………………. 37 Do not have an opinion ………….. 34 Not sure …………………………………. 1

Furthermore, for the first time since February of 2013, a majority of Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans to deal with taxes.

With an even stronger indictment than a Quinnipiac Poll from late November (which showed 29% of Americans approving of the plan), and the calendar being mere days away from a midterm election year, it’s quite surreal — politically speaking — for a massively unpopular upwards shift of wealth to be the hill Republicans choose to die on.

Ed Hanratty is a Reverb Press contributor and freelance political journalist. A lifelong New Jerseyan, he prides himself on having just enough Garden State sarcasm and skepticism to keep his bleeding heart in check. Keep up with Ed’s work and random ramblings on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the links below…but not Snapchat — that’s where he’s decided to draw the social media line. (For Now)